Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija, Philippines 🇵🇭

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: San Jose de Nueva Ecija / San Jose / Sancti Iosephi in Insulis Philippinis (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Lingayen–Dagupan

Neighbouring Dioceses: Tarlac (↙), Urdaneta (←), Bayombong (↑), Cabanatuan (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Patron Saint: St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1984.02.16: Established as Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija / San Jose / Sancti Iosephi in Insulis Philippinis (Latin) (from Diocese of Cabanatuan and became suffragan of Lingayen–Dagupan)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.11.21 – ...):

Bishop Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, S.V.D. (56)

Ordinaries

Bishops of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Roman Rite)

Bishop Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, S.V.D. (56)
(2025.11.21 – ...)

Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Philippines)

Fac nos omnes unum in eo

Born:	1969.12.04 (Claveria, Cagayan, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	2007.02.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2026.01.17

Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Philippines) (2025.11.21 – ...)

Bishop Roberto Calara Mallari (68)
(2012.05.15 – 2024.12.29)

Bishop of Tarlac (Philippines)

In manus tuas

Born:	1958.03.27 (Masantol, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1982.11.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.03.27

Priest of San Fernando (Philippines) (1982.11.27 – 2006.01.14)

Titular Bishop of Erdonia (2006.01.14 – 2012.05.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando (Philippines) (2006.01.14 – 2012.05.15)

Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Philippines) (2012.05.15 – 2024.12.29)

Bishop of Tarlac (Philippines) (2024.12.29 – ...)

Bishop Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara (63)
(2005.02.12 – 2011.04.20)

Bishop of Pasig (Philippines)

Pasce agnos meos

Born:	1962.10.23 (Manila, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1990.03.24
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.04.30

Priest of Manila (Philippines) (1990.03.24 – 2005.02.12)

Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Philippines) (2005.02.12 – 2011.04.20)

Bishop of Pasig (Philippines) (2011.04.20 – ...)

Vice-President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (C.B.C.P.) (2021.12.01 – 2025.12.01)

Apostolic Administrator of San Pablo (Philippines) (2023.09.21 – 2024.09.21)

Bishop Leo Murphy Drona, S.D.B. (84)
(1987.06.10 – 2004.05.14)

Bishop emeritus of San Pablo (Philippines)

Pro mundi vita

Born:	1941.10.18 (Pangil, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1967.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.07.25

Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Philippines) (1987.06.10 – 2004.05.14)

Bishop of San Pablo (Philippines) (2004.05.14 – 2013.01.25)

Bishop Florentino Ferrer Cinense (88)
(1984.05.24 – 1985.08.17)

Bishop emeritus of Tarlac (Philippines)

Coram mea Spiritus novus

Born:	1938.03.14 (Guimba, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1963.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.07.14

Priest of Cabanatuan (Philippines) (1963.12.21 – 1984.05.24)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1974.11.20 – 1982.05.04)

Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary (1982.05.04 – 1984.05.24)

Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Philippines) (1984.05.24 – 1985.08.17)

Coadjutor Bishop of Tarlac (Philippines) (1985.08.17 – 1988.01.21)

Bishop of Tarlac (Philippines) (1988.01.21 – 2016.03.31)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker, San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Central Luzon
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (21)

Tarlac (↙), Urdaneta (←), Bayombong (↑), Cabanatuan (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,540 km²

Population: 636,422 Catholics (69.0% of 922,351 total)

Pastoral Centres: 21 parishes, 4 missions

Personnel: 35 priests (diocesan), 16 religious (1 brother, 15 sisters), 11 seminarians